953 


noe 


Buffalo  *  The  Peter  Paul 
Book  Company  &  J896 


Copyright,  we, 
By 

Philip  Becker  Goetz. 


OF 

THE  PETER  PAUL  BOOK  CO. 
BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


Characters 


KORESOS,  a  priest  of  Dionusos. 

EURUPULOS,  heir  to  the  throne  of  Kalodon  and  brother 

to  KALLIRRHOE. 
CHORDS  of  priests. 
KALLIRRHOE,  beloved  of  Koresos. 
AGLAIA,  attendant  to  KALLIRRHOE,  and  beloved  of 

EURUPULOS. 

MESSENGER  from  the  temple. 
Attendants. 

SCENE:  KALUDON. 
Time:  The  Regency  of  MEL ANIOS. 


M191939 


Kallirrboe 


KORESOS 

O  Dionusos,  here  before  thine  altar 

After  no  ceaseless  vigil  of  vain  prayer 

But  scarce  with  wrath  of  lips  grown  cold  ere  thott 

Didst  hear  my  cry,  I  stand  with  offering 

Stainless  and  pure  and  holy  hands  of  thanks* 

Thy  pestilence  hath  spread  from  wall  to  wall, 

Swept  men  and  mothers,  virgins  and  the  bud 

Of  strength  to  everlasting  shade  beyond 

The  voice  of  love,  whose  unavailing  eyes 

Yearn  from  the  loveless  earth  toward  drearer  Hades* 

Still  how  her  proud  eyes  keep  their  sullen  level  I 

Who  heard  her  sigh  when  her  loved  sire  lay  low 

In  death  ?    While  yet  above  his  treasured  urn 

She  sorrowed*  came  not  one  to  whisper  woe 

And  said  her  mother,  too,  decaying  craved 

Becoming  burial  ?    The  head  of  her 

Must  wear  this  curse  of  partings  populous ! 

For  thou  herein  hast  honored  me  thy  priest, 

Since  at  my  supplication  when  she  spurned 

Me  most  and  held  her  arrogance  bolt-bright 

Above  my  fettered  soul,  my  rage  outbrake 

My  bonds  and  there  I  vowed  my  remnant  life 

That  she  should  feel  the  flame  wherewith  she  blasted 

My  hope,  my  fair  desire,  and  all  sweet  joy 

Among  staid  precincts  of  mine  adoration. 


Hallirrboe 


Here,  then,  Luaios,  be  thou  paid:  this  stain 
Of  slaughtered  goats  with  sacred  ivy  crowned 
And  dearer  tendrils  of  the  sunny  vine ; — 
(Yet  grant  me  strength  to  look  beyond  her  eyes) — 
Thus  have  I  done?  but  thou,  attendant,  speak 
Upon  the  advent  of  Kallirrhoe. 

(Exit  KORESOS.) 

Enter  CHORDS 

Strophe  A 

Hence  we  passed  with  step  of  pain: 
For  the  rude  voice  of  the  pest, 
Meanings  of  dying, 
Oaths  of  defying, 
Sobs  and  low  sighing 
Gave  no  rest. 

Through  the  long  nights  thick  with  rain, 
The  sacred  wind, 
The  brass  bright-twined 
Leafy  beckoned  in  behest. 

Strophe  B 

To  the  forest  we  came : 
"Dim  Dodona,  give  us  peace; 

Hear  us,  Zeus,  oh  grant  us  grace." 
Looked  we  then  upon  each  face 
Of  the  warders  of  release, 
Grim-eyed  stare  of  each  dame, — 
Their  silvered  hair 
By  the  silver  moon 


Kalllrrlw 

Seemed  graceless,  bare 
Of  our  anxious  boon* 

Strophe  C 
"Blood  the  angered  god  demands. 

The  princeliest  fair  that  head : 

Else  equal  the  life  ye  shed* 
Lead  the  victim  to  his  frauds 

Whom  to  avenge  in  holywise 

Guilty  the  guiltless  dies. 
Speak  no  word  but  bind  with  bands 

Brow  of  the  sacrifice." 

Antistrophe  A 

Hither  came  we  in  dismay 
With  more  death  to  death  of  grief. 
44 Give  us  his  blessing!" 
Round  us  pale  pressing 
Cried  they  confessing 
Hope's  belief. 
Silently  we  went  our  way 
To  greet  our  priest. 
Ere  they  had  ceased 
Questioning  the  fatal  leaf. 

Antistrophe  B 

Him  we  found  low-bowed. 
"Hath  Dodona  given  peace. 

Heard  our  prayer  and  granted  grace  ? 

Yet  we  guarded  speech  a  space* 
Fearing  woe  in  heaven's  release. 


Kallirrftot 


Taught,  his  eyes  gathered  cloud : 
He  raised  his  hands 

And  cried  «'Tis  she 
The  god  demands — 

Kaffirrhoe!" 

Antistrophe  C 

Now  the  dawn  hath  brought  a  morn 
Most  happy  or  most  accursed, — 
In  ocean  of  woe  immersed 
Came  and  paceth  toward  its  bourn 
Tear-sad,  if  she  can  find 
None  of  such  kindly  mind 
Choosing  death  that  she  may  scorn 
Blast  of  the  baleful  wind. 

Enter  EURUPULOS 
Hail,  friend !    Tell  me,  is  Koresos -within  ? 

CHOROS 
Truly  thy  haste  of  word  imports  strange  news* 

EURUPULOS 
News  that  were  better  old  to  please  that  priest* 

CHOROS 

Thy  lightness  is  unworthy  thee  and  him 
And  thus  of  Dionusos  whom  he  serves* 

EURUPULOS 
A  fit  phrase  hast  thou  found  herein  for  him! 


Kallirrboc 


CHORDS 

What  phrase?  Speafc,>outh!  What  meanest  thou  in  this? 

EURUPULOS 

What  meaning  lieth  here  I  treasure  close 
For  Koresos,  not  for  his  doting  slaves  I 

CHOROS 

Slaves  ?    Doting  slaves  ?    Now  be  thou  ware,  and  heed, 

O  youth,  lest  the  high  princely  stock  whence  thou 

Hast  sprung,  be  laid  in  lowliness  and  shame 

By  this  unseemliness, — strange  blasphemy 

That  green  years  may  insult  the  fruit  of  age, 

Conservers  of  the  past  not  promisers 

Of  laden  ripeness  from  most  dubious  bud. 

But  the  soft  f all  of  sacred  foot  I  hear. 

KORESOS 

What  loud  impatience  of  untutored  years 
Begins  this  fatal  morn  unhallowed  strife  ? 

CHOROS 
Behold  the  prince,  ill  master  of  his  tongue. 

EURUPULOS 

Had  I  been  more  a  master  I  had  left 
Thee  less  a  maker  of  such  calm  discourse; 
But  now  my  words  were  weak  before  my  cause 
And  to  just  Koresos  I  turn  my  thought 
Engaging  reminiscence  of  the  woe 
Which  spreads  this  day  destruction  on  my  life. 


jo 


KORESOS 

Thou  art  most  merciful  :  a  noble  race 
Bespeaks  this  resolution  to  depose 
Thy  blood  for  thy  rude-fated  sister  :  I 
Commend  thy  strength  and  dedicate  thy  love 
Fof  her  among  the  gifts  by  far  most  grateful 
To  Dionusos. 

EURUPULOS 

Speed  of  lofty  wish 

Aye  marks  the  priest  anticipating  fact. 
Surely  to  me  her  life  is  dear  :  more  dear 
Forsooth,  than  now  to  him  who  whispered  menace 
No  longer  since  than  in  the  month  of  flowers 
"When  to  her  bosom  alien  to  his  vows 
He  hissed  untimely  end*    Methinks  his  name 
Is  not  unknown  to  thee,  O  Koresos. 

KORESOS 

Eurupulos,  ask  me  no  idle  question* 

CHOROS 

Heed  him*  Eurupulos*  I  pray  thee,  heed  1 
Lest  fate  befall  more  keen  than  angry  threat. 

EURUPULOS 

Here*  then,  before  you  both  I  bare  my  heart. 
Know  thou,  O  Koresos*  that  thou  hast  proved 
Thyself  a  practiced  archer  in  the  doles 
Of  death  :  for  I*  a  prince*  before  thy  servants 
Humble  myself  to  shame  thee  what  thou  art. 


Rallirrboc n 

Tears  now  avail  me  not,  for  she  most  dear 

Of  all  my  kin,  my  sister,  searching  long 

Hath  found  a  life  to  answer  for  her  own 

Demanded,  as  thou  sayst,  by  Dionusos* 

And  her  she  found  is  of  all  women  crowned 

The  utmost  wonder  of  our  realm's  extent, 

The  high,  fierce  fire  my  heart  supports  and  feeds 

With  proudest  blood :  and  when  I  might  attain, 

Starts  this  decree,  a  cloud  across  my  hope* 

How  have  they  sinned,  my  sister  or  her  mate  ? 

Tell  me,  just  Koresos,  and  I  will  pause* 

More  still  than  fate,  more  ruthless,  too,  thou  standest ! 

Hear  me  disclose  thee  to  thyself,  a  dread 

And  fearful  curse  to  thy  most  holy  office 

And  yet  more  awful  to  this  land  of  thine ! 

CHORDS 
Stay,  youth,  thy  rage :  see  how  his  hate  he  lowers ! 

KORESOS 

Wilt  thou  declare  this  fevered  love,  yet  live  ? 

No  oracle  forbids  the  sacrifice 

Of  thee  for  thy  loved  sister  or  that  wonder 

Of  thy  dominion*    Lift  thy  heart  to  deeds 

And  be  not  thou  content,  O  puissant  prince, 

To  bruit  devotion  in  the  ears  of  men, 

And,  when  thou  mightst  earn  endless  honor,  fail* 

CHOROS 
O  youth,  reflect  upon  his  words,  and  win* 


J2 Kallirrtioc 

EURUPULOS 

Thou  knowest  well  my  duty's  debt  to  men. 
Exalted  in  the  hearts  of  Kaludon 
My  father  held  his  throne  and  not  a  breath 
Of  abject  rumor  ever  soiled  his  rule. 
Thumenides  is  dead  and  with  him  died 
My  queenly  mother.    I  am  left,  sole  remnant — 
After  Melanios,  our  childless  regent — 
Of  their  torn  fortune:  were  it  right  that  I, 
Sole  son  to  stead  my  house,  beget  fair  offspring, 
And  hold  this  power  where  it  stood  of  yore, — 
Should  leave  my  line  and  issueless,  unloved 
Of  gods  or  men,  because  I  hear  no  voice 
Of  destiny,  die  for  Dodona's  cry? 
Not  that  I  love  my  life  in  what  I  am 
But  what  I  see  unripened  if  I  die, 
Prevents  the  sacrifice  for  those  I  love. 
Hear  mine  appeal,  for  yonder  in  the  distance 
Methinks  they  move,  calmly  and  sadly  dear. 
Save  them,  almighty  Koresos,  oh  save ! 

CHOROS 

Strophe  A 

Heavy  that  joy  in  whose  heart 
Sorrow  must  pay  for  its  life : 
Who  gave  the  one 
Its  light  and  sun  ? 
And  who  cast  the  gloom 
On  the  other's  bloom? 


Hallirrhoc ,3 

Surely  the  gods  were  at  strife 
Thus  to  perplex  man  with  art. 

Strophe  B 

"What  is  length  of  days,  or  strength,  or  praise  ? 

They  pass  like  the  fragrance  of  flowers : 
For  a  time  we  charm  away  alarm 

Yet  bend  to  the  merciless  powers 

Of  death,  whose  breath 
Blasts  as  it  sweeps  with  hurricane  harm. 

Antistrophe  A 

Tears  fill  her  eyes  as  she  nears 
Solemnly  proud  yet  demure : 
Who  knows  her  thought  ? 
Why  thus  she  sought 
Chill  death  and  despair 
For  a  friend  to  bear? 
Noble  that  friend  and  sure, 
Tried  and  devoid  of  low  fears  I 

Antistrophe  B 

Since  she  loved  her  life,  what  was  her  strife — 

The  friend  who  in  utter  surrender 
Robs  herself  of  the  light,  of  love's  dear  sight  ? 

May  Zeus  and  his  mercy  attend  her, 

In  peace  release. 
Breath  from  the  fairness  she  flings  to  the  night. 

(Enter  KALLIREHOE  and  AGLAIA.) 


u Kallirrboc 

KORESOS 
Hail  I  maiden,  happy  in  thy  faithful  friends. 

KALLIRRHOE 
Little  my  joy  when  health  allots  heart-sickness. 

EURUPULOS 
O  sister,  knewst  thou  strength,  sorrow  were  strange. 

KALLIRRHOE 
Thou,  too,  wouldst  have  me  die  unjustly,  brother? 

EURUPULOS 

Far  from  my  will  such  thought,  Kallirrhoe; 
Yet,  sister,  would  this  day  had  never  dawned, 
Ere  them  and  I  and  all  we  love  in  one 
Swift  stroke  of  common  fate  had  left  the  light. 

KORESOS 

Hast  thou,  a  brother,  not  before  this  hour 
Revealed  to  her,  thy  sister,  thy  disease  ? 

EURUPULOS 

She  knoweth  all.    For,  tell  me,  Koresos, 
What  woman  lovely  in  the  eyes  of  men 
Lifts  clear  brow  and  most  innocent  of  ill 
Knows  not  the  spell  she  casts  about  the  sense? 
And  equally  no  woman  but  divines 
The  kindred  power  in  another's  beauty. 
Had  I  ne'er  spoken  (as  no  brother  heart 
Would  grant),  she  would  have  read  my  secret  passion, 
Caught  it  and  phrased  it  to  my  startled  ears 


Kallirrboc 


And  sent  it  speeding  one  hot  eagerness 

Through  all  my  frame.    Trust  thou  a  woman's  guess. 

Well  knoweth  she  my  love  for  fair  Aglaia,  — 

Aglaia  glad  in  me  and  ready  so 

To  die  for  her,  my  sister  and  her  mistress. 

What  though  she  be  low-born  and  Agrios, 

Her  father  kept  the  hillside  flecked  with  flock 

And  pressed  the  oozy  dugs  and  sent  the  curd 

To  princely  tables  ?    What  though  thus  ignobly 

A  toiler  with  hard  hands  he  wrought  long  years  ? 

As  from  dark  earth  blossoms  the  purest  lily 

And  from  the  pool  the  lotus  radiant, 

So  issued  she  —  a  glory  of  no  pride. 

Hers  is  the  loveliness  a  god  would  woo  ; 

High-dowered,  beauteous,  and  rare  with  graces 

Forgotten  through  the  jealousy  of  fates, 

Who  give  their  gifts  that  men  may  worship  them, 

Not  love  too  well  the  gifted  lest  the  bale 

Of  smitten  mind  disturb  the  might  of  kings. 

As,  in  the  days  of  old,  fair  Leda's  child 

Waving  her  wayward  tresses  gold  against 

Golden  Apollo,  made  distraught  huge  Theseus 

Till  tremblingly  he  caught  her  to  his  heart 

And  bore  her  off  a  curse  upon  the  lips 

Of  unbelieving  men,  who,  once  beholding, 

Smothered  their  oaths  and  prayed  she  gaze  their  way  I 

Then,  be  her  stock  obscure,  yet  gentleness 

Never  knew  welcome  in  a  breast  more  high. 

What  better  proof  of  most  exalted  worth  ?  * 

She  leaves  her  life  to  give  another  life. 


J6 


CHOROS 

Discretion  marks  his  words  who  first  in  rudeness 
Addressed  our  pious  ears  ;  and  why  in  meekness 
He  here  appeareth,  know  I  not  unless 
The  strife  of  gladly  losing  one  he  loveth 
And  sadly  keeping  thus  another  love 
Hath  tired  a  mad  invention  unto  calm. 
Nevertheless,  foreboding  fills  my  spirit 
Lest  in  sweet  words  dark  omen  of  swift  fate 
And  keen  disaster  lurk,  since  silent  stands 
Absorbed  and  hesitant  with  lucent  truth 
Holiest  Koresos*    Speak,  master,  speak  ! 

KORESOS 

Before  I  speak,  confirm  me  my  conjecture  : 
Of  thee  with  unuplifted  eye  I  ask, 
Aglaia,  but  one  only  word  and  answer 
Me  truly  as  thou  art  a  woman  born 
Beauteous  and  perilous  to  mortal  peace. 
Art  thou  the  child  of  lowly  Agrios, 
Herdsman  and  keeper  of  meek-moving  sheep 
In  Kaludon,  who,  maimed  in  combat  once 
Among  yon  rugged  mountains,  limped  in  flight 
To  us,  praying  for  aid?    This  would  I  know. 

AGLAIA 
Thou  hast  conjectured  truly  :  I  am  his. 

CHOROS 

Flashing  his  eyes  with  sign  of  godlike  fury  I 
Nor  can  I  aught  discern  of  his  intent* 


KaUirrfroe \T_ 

KORESOS 

Thotf  knewest,  then,  thou  wast  a  slave  born,  bred, 

And  willing  still  to  manifest  thyself 

No  whit  superior  to  thine  origin  I 

Here  stood  Eurupulos  a  willing  aid 

To  veil  with  pleadings  dim  the  face  of  truth: 

How  deep  and  wide  and  high  and  universal 

His  love  for  theel    Here,  too,  Kallirrhoe 

Stood  like  a  stone,  unheeding,  deaf,  the  dread 

And  potent  oracle  of  Zeus*    Is't  thus 

Ye  meant  to  baffle  gods  with  treachery  ? 

Are  ye  so  ignorant  as  thus  to  deem 

Bright  godhead  blind  to  human  cheat  and  fraud? 

In  very  truth  however  tortuous 

The  path  of  guiltiness,  yet  be  ye  ware 

Upon  the  fleeing  heel  more  subtly  follow 

The  lidless  fates  with  hiss  of  retribution 

Armed  strong,  of  speed  unwearied,  hot  with  hate* 

A  curse  shall  fall  upon  your  unbent  heads! 

O  Father  Zeus,  ere  suppliant  they  sink 

Upon  their  knees  I  pray  thee  pity  them ; 

Forgive  their  deed,  for  life  is  sweet  to  youth 

And  uninstructed  in  the  errant  means 

Of  sin  they  wrought  this  insult  to  thy  power  I 

Forgive  them,  Father  Zeus,  and  hear  my  prayer. 

( Weeping,  he  sinks  exhausted  upon  the  earth.) 

CHORDS 

He  lies  on  the  ground ; 
He  utters  no  sound! 


RallirrDoe 


What  shall  we  say? 
Hither  come,  pray, 
Oh  gather  ye  round  I 

KALLIRRHOE 

Now  he  revives  and  lifts  again  his  head, 
"Will  I  be  venturesome  and  solve  my  doubt* 

AGLAIA 

Prithee,  not  harshly  on  my  poor  behalf! 
Or  life  or  death,  in  equal  grief  henceforth 
I  live  a  slave  in  deed  thus  humbled  low, 

EURUPULOS 

Oh  speak  not  so,  Aglaia.    For,  as  night 
Opposed  to  purple  west  rises  from  sea, 
So  sorrow  comes  from  gladness,  lighting  so 
A  thousand  stars  else  ever  undescried  I 

KALLIRRHOE 

Brother,  lead  her  away  that  I  may  seek 

The  priest,  who  glances  as  with  urgent  threat. 

(Exeunt  EURUPULOS  and  AGLAIA.) 

KORESOS 
Whither  away?  Not  yet  upon  your  knees? 

KALLIRRHOE 

Distress  thee  not  that  thus  they  wander  forth; 
Since  ignorance  of  wrong  is  right's  first  shield* 


Rallinpoe J9 

KORESOS 

Thy  last  word  suiteth  well  a  weak  defense. 

KALLIRRHOE 

No  woman  needs  a  man  to  hint  her  weak 
When  her  strong  master  stoops  to  such  a  phrase, 

KORESOS 

Enough  of  words:  the  day  would  end  ere  thou 
Hadst  satisfied  thy  most  untoward  tongue. 

KALLIRRHOE 
Why,  then,  that  gaze  that  bade  me  stay  behind? 

KORESOS 

Katiirrhoe,  thou  hast  as  stubborn  spirit 
Untamed,  unflexible  by  holy  ways 
As  by  the  softer  touch  of  human  love. 

KALLIRRHOE 

Yet  tell  me,  tutored  guardian  of  the  gods, 
Why  thou  so  fervently  hast  disallowed 
Aglaia  die  for  me  ?    My  tried  Aglaia, 
Alone  of  all  my  friends  found  faithful  still  I 
What  weary  days  I  searched  and  vainly  searched ; 
And  at  the  last  when  none  appeared  in  aid, 
Came  she  with  timid  voice  and  tearful  prayer 
Placing  her  wan  hands  to  my  fevered  head 
And  whispered  as  she  kneeled  beside  me  there — 
We  both  quite  silvered  in  the  last  moonlight 
Mine  eyes  seemed  destined  to  behold — there  clung 


20 


And  syllabled  she  meant  to  give  herself 
For  me.    How  I  rejoiced  in  this  great  gift 
Zeus  sent  in  answer  to  my  love  of  life  1 
Wherefore  I  joyed  in  her,  wherefore  in  life, 
None  save  all-seeing  Zeus  can  ever  know,  — 
Since  dimness  is  the  dawn  of  womanhood, 
Wearing  her  mystery  invisibly 
A  crown  secure  against  who  dares  aspire. 
Now  have  I  done.    Think  not  I  bend:  I  stand 
A  rock  against  the  waves  of  circumstance, 
Asking  their  hungry  violence  no  peace. 
Yet  ere  I  go,  again  I  pray  thee  tell 
How  that  Aglaia  may  not  die  for  me  ? 

KORESOS 
Thou  knowest  but  too  well  the  fatal  fault. 

KALLIRRHOE 
Fatal  at  least  :  but  fault  I  cannot  grant. 

KORESOS 

Both  :  since  it  counsels  thee  prepare  thyself 
To  die  and  charges  insolence  to  Zeus. 

KALLIRRHOE 
How?    Insolence!    Wherein  so  grave  a  charge? 

KORESOS 

In  that  the  oracle  demanded  clearly 
That  who  should  die  vicarious  for  thee 
Must  be  thy  peer. 


21 


KALLIRRHOE 
Is  not,  then,  this  fulfilled  ? 

KORESOS 

A  slave  for  thee,  a  maid  of  royal  blood  ? 

KALLIRRHOE 
And  wherefore  not?    O  Koresos,  declare. 

KORESOS 

"When  dogs  are  steeds  j  owls,  doves  ;  earth,  air  j  sea,  sky  ; 

Then  may  a  slave  to  lowest  of  the  free 

Be  peer  :  e'en  then  remote  from  him  in  worth* 

KALLIRRHOE 
O  Koresos,  a  life  for  life  is  just. 

KORESOS 

No  priest  dares  offer  victims  with  one  blot! 

KALLIRRHOE 
Blot  may  be  whiteness  to  the  eyes  of  gods  ! 

KORESOS 

Think  not  they  lean  with  such  a  patient  eye  : 
With  chill  austerity  severe  they  rule* 
Such  insult  to  the  god  we  would  appease, 
Would  stir  a  greater  plague  than  Kaludon 
Hath  yet  endured*    Speak,  then,  no  idle  word* 


22 


KALLIRRHOE 

Then,  Koresos*  look  thou  upon  me  well, 
This  is  the  sacrifice  thy  hidden  thought 
Demands*    If  I  dared  loose  my  tongue  this  hour 
In  utterance*  I  could  enlighten  all* 
See  that  thou  keen  the  sacrificial  blade 
Till  I  bring  me  enrobed  and  filled  with  all 
True  bravery  of  soul  that  I  may  die* 
Though  I  be  woman*  with  no  tear  save  red* 
That  me  thou  wouldst  sublime  in  peerless  death* 
Allowing  none  may  die  that  I  may  live* 
Not  flatters  me  :  a  barren*  foolish  truth  1 

KORESOS 

And  wherefore  foolish  if  a  truth  ? 

KALLIRRHOE 

Device 
Of  their  own  gain  makes  wise  the  meanest  fools. 

KORESQS 
Dark  are  thy  words, 

KALLIRRHOE 

That  I  spake  lucent  terror! 
The  hand  of  man*  not  Zeus*  created  slaves. 
Cold  kings  and  priests  august,  the  strong  of  earth 
Must  find  a  mode  to  save  their  hands  from  stain. 
Writing  a  deeper  on  their  sordid  hearts. 


23 


KORESOS 

Wouldst  thou  so  think,  were  not  thy  life  at  stake? 

KALLIRRHOE 

Would  I  were  cruel,  —  so  to  answer  thee  j 
But  I  beseech  thee  ere  I  deck  myself 
In  ritual  of  plague-atoning  death 
The  last  time  for  the  roving  eyes  of  who 
Will  come  in  witness  of  a  rude  deceit, 
Confirm  me  of  sincerity  and  ruth 
In  this  thy  reading  of  the  oracle* 

KORESOS 

One  moment  ere  the  sacrificial  knife 
Reaves  thee  of  lif  e,  I  shall  declare  :  nor  else* 

KALLIRRHOE 
I  go. 

KORESOS  (as  she  moves  away) 
How  my  soul  follows  in  her  way! 
Scarce  can  I  stay  my  voice  from  utterance 
Of  her  blest  name*    "Kallirrhoe!"  I  fain 
Would  call,  to  bid  her  yet  retrace  her  step*  .  . 
Now  Zeus  be  praised  for  hate  !    From  my  soul's  deep 
I  hate  her,  seeing  she  hath  made  me  love  ! 

CHOROS 

Strophe  A 

Full  of  sorrow  and  of  cares 
Weary  he  passed  ; 


24 


On  his  brow  no  crown  he  wears 
Though  a  king  of  men  he  be, 
Heavy-hearted  as  the  sea, 

Leaving  at  last 
Mirth  and  joy  of  earth,  soul  free. 

Strophe  B 

And  darknesss  lieth  beyond  the  breath 
Last  drawn  as  hence  man  hasteneth. 

Who  hath  pierced  the  gloom  of  the  tomb  ? 

"Who  hath  brought  relief  to  low  grief  ? 
As  leaves  in  autumn  fall  dead 
And  parent  tree  overhead 
Knoweth  them  nevermore, 
Like  unto  autumn's  store, 

Fruit  and  the  garlands  of  spring, 
"We  fade  away,  in  a  moment  decay, 

Tainted,  a  filthy  thing! 

Strophe  C 

Shall  we  sorrow  and,  sorrowing,  double  woe 
Or  be  glad  and  in  gladness  lightly  go 
Over  wastes  of  despair  where  she  spreads  her  snare 
Woven  of  thought  and  of  care? 

Antistrophe  A 

Why  a  godhead,  if  no  aid 

Answer  worn  knees  ? 
Hide  the  brow  in  ivy  shade, 
Droop  the  eye  with  vinous  drowse, 
dang  the  cymbals  in  carouse 


Kallirrlw 25 

Doubly  with  glees, — 
lakchos'  jocund  raid  I 

Antistrophe  B 

The  gods  in  bidding  mankind  endure 
Allow  no  bane  but  hides  a  cure* 

Ariadne  cried  to  the  tide 

As  her  Theseus  dead  to  her  fled : 
The  swept  wave,  deaf  to  appeal, 
Responded  naught  as  the  keel 
Arrogant  spurned  vain  Crete* 
Turned,  she  saw  at  her  feet, 

Tall  in  no  glory  of  earth, 
Brighter  than  star  with  white  Artemis  far, 

Dread  Dionusos  in  mirth ! 

Antistrophe  C 

He  requited  with  love  her  questioning  grief, 
To  a  woman  bereft  a  god  gave  relief: 
Shall  a  priest  be  abandoned  who  dedicates 
Life  and  on  godhead  waits  ? 

Epodos 

Where  lies,  O  Eros,  thy  kindliness  ? 
Thus  to  destroy  a  priest, 
Thus  to  mock  the  just,  to  consume  the  true 
By  deep-sown  fire  of  a  human  eye  I 
Blaspheme  I  never,  rather  bless 
Thy  potent  will  and  deity, 
Yet  on  my  master  at  least 
Thou  hast  brought  the  dubious  gift  of  rue. 


26 Halllrrftoe 

(Enter  KORESOS  slowly.} 

CHOROS 

"What  thoughts  are  thine,  O  Koresos,  our  lord, 
That  ever  with  the  earth  thou  hast  discourse 
And  never  upward  to  the  air  art  won? 

KORESOS 

'Tis  that  I  question  earth  to  answer  me, 
And  finding  still  reply  unwritten  where 
I  seek,  yet  gaze  on  emptiness  as  dreaming. 

CHOROS 

Surely  the  load  upon  thine  age  is  grown 
Too  grave  to  wear ;  youth  were  a  fitter  time. 

KORESOS 

Thou  speakest,  then,  of  her  whom  young  in  years 
I  loved,  still  love,  and  shall  not  cease  to  love? 

CHOROS 

Strange  that  thy  wisdom  and  ripe  mastery 
Of  humors  kin  to  vigorous  prime  submit 
Their  strength  unto  a  scorning  maiden.    Royal 
I  grant  her  with  unsullied  blood  of  sires 
Endued  and  with  the  valid  victories 
Of  perished  generations  beautiful ; 
Nathless,  "what  gainest  thou — advanced  from  bloom 
Of  youth,  from  springtime  of  man's  passioning, 
From  the  first  fine  delirium  of  vein, 
From  freshness  and  the  thrilling  zest  of  morn 


Kallirrhoc 27 

(What  morn  clear  youth  awakes  to  manhood's  mist)  ? 

Canst  thou  without  the  tinct  regret  at  folly 

Hide  blossom  of  thy  plucking  in  her  hair  ? 

Or  wage  enfreiuied  warfare  widely  sweet 

Upon  her  cheek  ?    ding  lip  and  interlock 

Fond  fingers  ?    Think  thou  on  this  vainness,  judge 

Thyself  if  not  most  mad  and  ill-advised 

Too  late  thy  wooing  show  most  indecorous. 

KORESOS 

Oh  say  not  so !    Too  well  I  know  her  hate 

That  settled  strong  as  destiny  hath  blasted 

My  hope  and  long  desire  of  life  and  bliss. 

Methinks  the  very  temple-stones  one  day 

In  witness  of  my  truth  must  far  proclaim 

Their  knowledge  of  my  knees  bent  low  to  Zeus 

Remedial.    But  all  is  past :  so  pass 

Much  cherished  dreams  whence  we  awake  to  earth 

From  lands  incredible  beyond  our  ken. 

Pity  for  her  inhabiteth  my  heart, 

Yet  Dionusos  spake  and  Dionusos 

Shall  be  obeyed  if  no  free-born  present 

The  price :  in  death  vicarious  to  die. 

Aye,  even  as  I  speak,  hither  she  moves. 

(As  KALLIRRHOE  enters) 

"What  means  thy  garb  of  cheer,  Kallirrhoe, 
Thy  loosened  hair,  these  arms  outspread,  this  gait 
As  if  the  festal  timbrel  taught  thy  step 
Obedience  to  its  call  ?    No  festival 
Is  here,  but  sombre  rite  of  formal  death 


28 


On  thee  decreed,  not  kcking  piety 

Of  yonder  holy  knife  and  my  true  hand 

Swift  to  surrender  thee  unto  our  god, 

Who  to  alky  rough  crest  and  ceaseless  wave 

Of  loss  demands  the  princely  price  of  thee. 

KALLIRRHOE 

No  ill-conjectured  method  in  my  robe, 
O  priest,—  if  still  thou  ponder  and  not  once  ; 
On  failure,  yield  the  answer  aye  unanswered* 
And  lest  thou  fail  to  read,  mine  enterprise 
Be  here  to  teach*    What  !  shall  the  victim  wail 
Against  the  god's  decree  interpreted 
In  mode  of  grace  by  comely  deputy  ? 
That  were  to  rail  on  fate,  blaspheme  the  just, 
Assume  the  heifer's  brute  appeal  from  pain. 
For  here,  devout,  our  master  Koresos 
Tells  Kaludon  to  kill  a  princess,  prize 
At  word,  as  asked  by  dying  citizens  ; 
New  irony  of  power  that  subjects'  cry 
Demands  and  wins  the  fall  of  nobler  state  ! 
When  died  a  god  for  man,  to  found  such  justice  ? 
So  am  I  come  in  all  obedience, 
Ripe  for  the  happy  god,  one  soul  the  more, 
One  grape  starved  Dionusos  crunches  thus 
To  burnish  the  sleek  brow  one  red  the  more 
And  fling  Persephone  the  corporal  husk! 
How  !  wilt  thou  charge  me  sacrilegious  now, 
Because  I  count  most  vain  enervate  incense* 
And  vain  your  shrieking  beasts  with  taunt  of  wreath 
Encircling  their  decorous  innocence  ? 


29 


KORESOS 

Cease,  on  thy  life  I 

KALLIRRHOE 
Thou  shall  hear  all. 

KORESOS 

Insult 

Not  Dionusos*    Though  thou  spurn  the  man 
Of  me,  bethink  thee  that  on  this  my  brow 
The  dreadful  choice  of  priesthood  sits  enthroned, 
The  which  thus  rashly  and  in  wrath  to  vex 
Shall  bring  more  horror  than  mere  loss  of  breath  ! 

KALLIRRHOE 
Of  all  I  have  bethought  me  and  —  I  speak* 

KORESOS 
Better  were  peace  and  good  than  sin  and  death* 

KALLIRRHOE 

A  weak  word*  priest  1    For  though  I  speak  a  sin 
In  tonguing  here  my  hot  soul*  I  am  true, 

KORESOS 
Woe*  woe  1  thy  shroud  is  sin  and  taints  thy  white* 

KALLIRRHOE 

Then,  as  a  king  begat,  queen  bare  me,  I 
Scorning  degree,  control,  and  niggard  truth 
Within  the  meditated  phrase,  entreat 


30 Kallirrftoe 

Thee,  Lord  of  all  the  world,  O  Zeus,  be  kind ! 
And  if  I  sin,  inspire  a  grand  sin  now! 

KORESOS 

Again  before  the  god  of  Kaludon 

In  awful  fear  I  warn  thee,  curb  thy  tongue  I 

CHOROS 

He  speaks  intending  favor;  timely  heed? 
Allow  I  join  entreaty  for  thy  good. 

KALLIRRHOE 

Away  I    I  reck  not  longer,  but  declare 
My  heart  that,  ere  it  burst  to  sanguine  bloom 
Upon  the  blade,  pierces  for  utterance 
My  breast  intact.    By  all  the  gods  in  heaven, 
You  never  loved  me,  Koresos,  but  still 
Within  thyself  held  hate  of  me,  designed 
The  overthrow  of  all  our  house,  and  scared 
Eurupulos  until  he  proved  one  night 
Within  the  sacred  grove  his  righteous  arm 
Upon  thy  crippled  form! 

KORESOS 
Tis  false,  I— 

KALLIRRHOE 

Nay, 

Attend  1    I  will  not  scant  a  syllable. 
And  then  thou  didst  devise  how  that  by  love 
And  craft  thou  mightst  deceive  and  vanquish  him 


RallirrDoe 


By  snaring  me  unto  thine  arms  ;  but  spurned 
And  loathed  by  me,  acute  to  pierce  and  keen 
To  cut  thy  covetous  conceits,  recourse 
Was  thine  to  Dionusos  and  Dodona. 
Nay,  hear  me  home  I    Thou  hast  my  latest  word. 
"What  heed  the  gods  the  hand,  so  up  to  them 
Twine  sweet  submissive  scent  and  savors  thick  ? 
But  thee  I  know  from  thy  shrunk  foot's  weak  print 
E'en  to  the  chill  of  thy  foul-scheming  heart,  — 
A  plausive  priest,  a  most  corrupt  impostor  I 

KORESOS 

Now  may  the  gods  —  but  seize  her,  bind  her  arms  I 
And  may  — 

KALLIRRHOE 

Thy  curse  upon  thine  own  life  fall, 
And  mayst  thou  live  among  men  tedious  days, 
Ceaseless  increasing  thine  infirmities 
From  hour  to  hour  until  thy  sorrows  bow 
Thee  down  a  living  corse  close  to  the  earth 
To  make  thee  show  a  cringer  to  the  ground 
As  now  to  gods  and  men.    And  when  the  end 
Befalls,  with  blasted  eyeballs,  impotent 
And  fain  to  speak  thy  woe,  with  palsied  tongue 
And  still  more  withered  shape  than  this  thy  case, 
Alone,  unloved  of  men,  a  sport  of  gods 
Then  ware  of  thee,  reviled  and  outcast  mayst 
Thou  die  in  misery,  unburied  lie 
In  wildered  waste  of  earth  where  human  hand 


32 Rallittftoe 

May  never  strew  a  pious  dust-grain  o'er 

Thy  wretched  flesh*    May  rapine  birds  too  vile* 

Too  sick  for  honest  carrion*  draw  near 

And  pick  thee  piece  from  rotting  piece  that  there 

Quite  peered  in  wretchedness  with  merit  here* 

Though  formless*  spared  in  not  one  ache  the  less* 

But  in  each  several  rifled  part  of  thee 

A  realm  of  woe,  endlessly  mayst  thou  shriek 

In  ghastly  music  through  the  dawnless  night* 

Haunting  the  hollow  spaces  of  the  air, 

Hearing  no  answer  but  reverberate  pain 

Leaping  thy  scattered  lips  remote  from  Zeus! 

CHOROS 

He  swoons  1  attendants*  ho  I  .  *  *  Lead  her  within, 

(Exeunt  all  save  CHOROS.} 

CHOROS 

Strophe  A 

Wherever  upon  the  ways  of  the  earth 
Man  moves*  he  moves  not  alone: 

But  attendant,  invisible*  two 
Hover:  one  is  woe  and  the  other  is  mirth; 

One  smarting  a  smile  with  rue 
And  one  to  cheer  every  moan* 
And  which,  when  they  battle,  shall  win  or  lose, 
Seems  never  a  man's  to  choose* 
No  more  than  to  bid  the  sun  arise 
Or  hang  the  thick  clouds  from  the  skies* 


Kallirrlw 33 

Strophe  B 

Many  degrees  of  sight  Zeus  gave 
And  he  taught  us  to  gaze  and  be  glad; 

He  laughs  with  our  joy  and  is  calm  at  our  grief ; 
He  looks  with  no  pity  and  sends  no  relief 
For  he  heaps  with  distresses  the  sad, 
Sinners  of  choice  whom  no  prayers  can  save 
When  they  read  awry. 
E'en  to  kings  and  high 
Of  the  world  when  they  cry 
He  deafens  his  ear, 

Placid  with  power,  unmoved  as  a  flower 
His  face  regarding  man's  fear* 

Strophe  C 

For  he  taught  us  the  right, 
Not  his  the  blame 

If  the  better  eye  miss  and  betray : 
The  king  sees  wide  and  discovers  the  same 
With  a  god's  wing-traveling  sight  j 
And  the  slave  is  least, 
For  he  toils,  is  a  beast— 
For  defect  to  the  gods,  and  to  man  for  play* 

Antistrophe  A 

If,  then,  the  strictest  of  eyes,  and  of  ears 
The  finest  leaned  to  the  prayer 

And  in  justice  noted  and  made 
Answer,  Koresos  may  be  heedless  of  fears 

And  slay  with  a  cheerful  blade, 


34 Kallirrboc 

Nor  quake  as,  oozing  through  hair, 
The  rich  life  gives  the  ransoming  seal: 
Since,  one  destroyed  shall  a  thousand  heal. 
The  next  grey  dawn  are  no  mourners  seen : 
Fair  Kaludon  awakes  and  is  clean. 

Antistrophe  B 

Lofty  however  a  mortal  be 
And  a  boast  to  the  land  of  his  race, 

The  gods  but  command  him,  no  mercy  is  theirs  ? 
Their  faces  are  alien,  devoid  of  cares, 
Their  spirits  unclouded.    "What  grace 
Owe  they  to  us?    They  would  never  decree 
Even  to  their  own 
Sons  of  earth,  sky-sown, 
Incorruptive  bone, 
Eye  proof  against  night, 

Sinews  of  steel  that  can  mock  the  deal 
Of  discovering  dart  in  the  fight. 

Antistrophe  C 

Dionusos  brought  low 
With  swift  disease ; 

And  almighty  Zeus  to  the  loud  despair 
Sent  peace  in  pall  to  bid  from  these 
No  more  than  Kallirrhoe  go: 
More  solicitous 
Or  more  just  to  us 
There  was  never  god  o'er  the  vaulted  air* 


Hallirrboc 35 

Enter  EURUPULOS 

Tell  me,  O  men,  delay  me  not,  with  speed 
Resolve  me — Koresos — is  he  within? 

CHOROS 

Not  doubtfully  thy  question  bears  its  answer; 
But,  in  thy  turn,  say  wherefore  pallid  cheek, 
Breath-interrupted  phrases,  hurried  eyes? 

EURUPULOS 

I  fain  would  learn  the  deed,  whether  performed 
Or  haply  unaccomplished  yet  and  waiting. 
If  I  might  enter — 

CHOROS 

No  impiety  1 

By  Dionusos,  who  would  stay  the  knife, 
May  he  ignobly  perish.    Hold,  no  further 
Advance  lest  thunder  and  insanity 
Strike  palsy  through  thine  every  vein  and  harrow 
And  shrivel  thy  man's  vigor  into  naught. 

EURUPULOS 

Hark  ye  1  so  many  marvels  throng  to  loose 

Themselves  articulate,  yet  credible 

To  none,  I  needs  must  pause  which  to  propose. 

Briefly,  Melanios  the  King  hath  passed 

To  me  the  scepter. 


36 


CHORDS 

How?    What  favor  hast 
Thou  found,  to  be  preferred  before  his  end? 

EURUPULOS 
He  is  no  more. 

CHORDS 

"What  means  this  word?    Oh  speak! 

EURUPULOS 

Shall  I  repeat  ?    He  is  no  more.    He  breathes 
Never  again  the  breath  of  life,  but  now 
Awaits  the  journey  ever  at  the  ebb 
Until  due  rites  be  paid. 

CHOROS 

Oh  heavy  news  I 
The  manner  of  his  end  ? 

EURUPULOS 

I  would  relate 

"Were  I  but  more  immediate  to  aid 
Kallirrhoe*    I  cannot  speak  and  think 
She  dies  an  arm-stretch  whence  I  stand. 

CHOROS 

Defer 

Thy  cares  to  fate  ;  how  meetly  may  the  earth 
Be  ordered,  'tis  divine  solicitude. 


Hallirrftoe 37 

EURUPULOS 

Know,  then,  as  I  returned  Aglaia  hence, 
To  me  swift-footing  o'er  the  mead  there  posted 
A  messenger  who  urged  a  further  speed, 
How  that  the  king  grew  wan  with  fading  breath* 
Alarmed,  I  hastened  where  he  sat  amid 
Ignorant  and  too  willing  ministrants. 
For  one  would  soothe  his  brow,  another  loose 
His  robe,  and  still  another  cried  him  air, 
Until  I  came  and  swept  them  with  my  hand 
Away  and  backward  from  his  struggling  breast. 
He  seemed  to  sink  beneath  a  load  on 's  heart, 
At  every  effort  weaker  coping,  while, 
Dumb  and  imploring  gods  to  ease  his  pain, 
We  stood  admiring  his  so  godlike  death* 
His  temples  throbbed  with  stroke  and  throe  of  vein. 
His  eye  stood  fixed,  his  regal  lips  did  quaver 
Like  aging  leaves  at  autumn's  first  fierce  blast? 
Or,  like  scared  soldiers  in  a  first  assault, — 
And  fitly,  too,  whose  master  save  that  hour 
Knew  illness  never.    But  when  I  perceived 
Behind  me  where  the  slaves  stood  all  a-weeping, 
Ill-omened  beat  of  breast  and  hair  shook  horrid 
From  head,  terror  crept  t9  my  trembling  foot 
And  crawled  snake-like,  increasing  length  and  upward 
Behind  me,  traveled  on,  and  when  it  reached 
My  brain,  it  stung  me  hot,  it  maddened  me; 
I  heard  Melanios  cry  "How  dark  it  grows  1 " 
And,  trying  eyes,  I  felt  myself  drop  earthward 
Like  some  struck  bird.    How  long  I  lay  were  idle 


38 


To  estimate;  but  I  awoke  to  strains 
Of  sudden  music  with  an  echoed  beauty, 
Which  flattered  with  "  Hail,  King  Eurupulos  I  " 
While  yon  before  me  on  his  wonted  couch, 
Melanios  outstretched  lay  white  and  dead. 

CHORDS 
Strange  sorrow*  bearing  balm  in  spite  of  tears  I 

EURUPULOS 
What  balm,  O  friends,  if  greater  grief  be  here  ? 

CHOROS 

What  grief,  Eurupulos,  obeying  gods  ? 

EURUPULOS 

Obedience  is  good,  but  who  may  know 
The  pleasure  of  the  distant-dwelling  gods? 

CHOROS 

Not  far  they  dwell,  inspiring  present  fears 
And  constant  apprehension  in  men's  deeds. 

EURUPULOS 

My  sister,  mate  with  me,  our  mother's  child, 
To  die  so  rudely  1 

CHOROS 
Think  thou  whom  to  save. 

EURUPULOS 
What  consolation  to  support  a  brother? 


Hallirrftoe 39 

CHOROS 

What  1  thou  a  king  and  speak  these  vulgar  words  ? 
Better  thou  ne'er  knewst  sovereignty  on  earth 
Than  live  so  far  from  heaven  thus  hard  to  brook 
A  private  loss  when  one  death  means  a  kingdom 
Preserved  and  hailing  thee  successive  king ! 
Take  spirit  of  the  gods,  tranquillity, 
Immunity  from  aches  and  moans  of  men ; 
Live  the  large  life  becoming  kingly  sway  j 
Bind  not  thy  youthful  soul  subservient 
To  cares ;  hold  high  thy  crown's  authority ; 
Keep  thou  thy  rescued  love,  whom,  though  a  slave, 
Ennobled  in  thy  choice,  may  Zeus  increase 
"With  largess  of  strong  heirs  and  happy  days, 
That  when  thou,  grey,  shalt  hand  thy  scepter  on, 
Pure  Kaludon  may  rise  to  thee  one  wide 
And  vivid  blessing,  sound,  imperishable. 
But,  soft  I  not  far  a  nearing  footstep  draws 
More  near. 

Enter  ATTENDANT 
Am  I  not  changed  in  spirit,  voice, 
Gait,  all  that  goes  before  throughout  my  years 
I  passed  me  ?    Whom  address  I  ?    For,  methinks, 
A  man  made  god,  or  god  made  mortal  first 
Should  hear  my  story  lest  the  burden  top 
In  marvel  the  less  marvel  of  such  change* 

EURUPULOS 
I  bid  thee  speak :  a  king  attends  this  frenzy. 


40 


ATTENDANT 
Thou  biddest  with  the  smooth  command  of  right. 

CHORDS 

And  rightly  so  :  for  know,  who  ruled  one  hour 
Ago,  is  dead,  —  Melanios. 

ATTENDANT 

Behold 

My  coldness  1    Naught  can  move  me  now  except 
Some  never  dreamed  and  never  acted  wonder, 

EURUPULOS 

And  yet  thou  stayest  when,  aware  of  worst, 
We  list  thy  petty  tale  of  tragedy  : 
The  victim's  blood  is  spilled  and  Koresos 
In  shame  at  muted  beauty,  hides.    Not  so? 

ATTENDANT 

Hides  verily,  for  where  his  being  keeps 
Zeus  knows. 

CHORDS 
I  glean  with  empty  hand. 

EURUPULOS 

Aye,  Zeus  : 

For  Zeus  can  penetrate  the  blindest  flesh 
And  scare  the  lurking  shame  I 


Kallirrftoe 


ATTENDANT 

His  body  holds 

No  shame  if  benefit  to  Kaludon 
Be  other. 

EURUPULOS 

Practise  caution,  youth,  feed  not 
The  willing  ire  of  dread  and  dauntless  kings 
That  touch,  therein  devouring  their  affects, 
Since  sorrow  oft  devises  tragic  issues. 

ATTENDANT 

Thou  canst  not  brave  me,  high  Eurupulos, 
I  am  a  messenger  from  holier  haunt 
Than  ever  royal  throne  hath  graced. 

EURUPULOS 

Thou  slave! 
Deal  with  me  openly  or  die  this  hour! 

ATTENDANT 

I  mean  not  ill  to  whisper  entrance  thus 
Into  thine  unsuspecting  and  else  startled 
Ears,  yet,  so  please  thy  will,  call  Koresos. 

CHOROS 
I  fail  to  gather  his  intent. 

EURUPULOS 

He  tempts 
Me  with  his  trickery  of  tongue* 


42 


ATTENDANT 

Call,  priest,— 

He  will  be  deaf  to  thy  command,  great  king  1 
Aye,  wert  thou  nearer  than  a  king,  —  his  friend, 
Entreaty  were  alike  most  impotent* 
Nor  that  in  obstinate  adherence  fixed 
Upon  his  god,  he  willed  a  deafened  ear, 
But  that  he  nevermore  may  hear  thy  voice, 
Since  cold,  kissing  the  temple's  cold,  he  lies 
BeforeKallirrhoe! 

EURUPULOS 
Conduct  us  further  : 
Some  mystery  half-scented  goads  conceit. 

ATTENDANT 

0  king  and  fellow-priests  of  Dionusos, 
The  gods  have  chosen  a  weak  tongue  in  me 
To  publish  you  my  legend,  for  I  press 

My  fingers,  weakening  more  and  more  to  hide 
This  world,  and  as  I  look  again,  doubt  more. 
Hence  unrelieved,  I  know  not  whither  best 

1  go  for  counsel  in  my  pain  save  that 
If  here  to  you  I  may  release  it  free, 

It  may,  in  sharing,  lose  some  poignancy 

As  oft  as  memory  shall  entertain 

Its  visitant  surprise  until  I  die. 

For,  as  into  the  sacred  place  she  hurried 

Afire  with  wrath  she  kindled  by  her  hate, 

A  certain  pallor  spelled  the  images, 


Kallirrftoe 43 

All  saving  Dionusos  who  grew  flushed 

And  turned  ambiguous  black  and  purpled  o'er 

As  grapes  in  sunlight  just  at  harvest-time. 

In  midst  of  weirdest  portents  of  the  gods, 

The  advent  of  moved  Koresos  amazed 

Us  more;  for  though  the  white  of  swoon  overcast 

His  countenance,  we  had  not  so  awaited 

The  ghostly  stare  and  tremble  of  his  hands. 

He  seemed  some  child  in  shame  confessing  fault, 

And  not  a  priest  of  god  at  sacrifice: — 

Solemnly  slow  with  force  deliberate 

Touching  the  fillet  for  the  only  time 

And  thence  denouncing  from  this  air  the  victim. 

Nay,  there  he  stood ;  a  moment  faced  her,  dumb ; 

Convulsively  he  stole  the  knife  I  offered, 

Bade  her  uncover  bosom  to  the  blow. 

Himation  and  tunic  loosed,  descended, 

And  hung  from  the  confining  zone.    Thereat 

Or  punishment  from  heaven  or  f renzy  swift 

At  finding  her  so  beauteous,  thrilled  his  spirit  ; 

Else,  O  ye  gods,  pronounce  why  then  he  rushed 

To  her  and  with  one  wild,  despairing  cry, 

"Kallirrhoe! "  plunging  his  dagger,  drunk 

To  hilt  within  his  own  breast,  fell  a  heap 

With  stream  of  dying  kisses  marking  aye 

Departing  life,  prone  at  her  kirtle's  edge. 

At  this  distraught,  a  cloud  bedimmed  mine  eyes; 

I  heard  the  smothered  lamentations  beat 

Mine  ears;  I  woke;  I  gained  the  door;  one  glance 

Behind  I  threw,  and  lo  I  where  lay  the  maiden 


44 Kaiiirrhoc 

Kissing  with  love's  dew  those  so  long  parched  lips 
As  if  to  win  them  answer  and  their  bloom. 

EURUPULOS 

Now  all  the  gods  so  prosper  me  as  now 
In  gratefulness  of  heart  I  honor  them! 

CHORDS 

Speak  no  ill-omened  word.    The  gods  are  skilled 
To  blight  his  reign  who  tatmteth  chance  untoward  I 

EURUPULOS 

I  need  not  cotinsel.  .  .  .  Thee,  I  mean,  aye,  thee 
Who  barest  message  suiting  royal  ear, 
Command  my  bounty.    Yet,  assure  me  well, — 
"Why  tarries  thus  my  sister  o'er  a  corse 
Erst  hated,  now  so  pitied, — woman's  way  ? 
Go  thou  to  her.    Instant  attendance  here 
Tell  her  the  king  demands,  so  shall  she  learn 
A  double  joy  to  lodge,  dead  Koresos 
And  King  Eurupulos.    What  I  not  returned  ? 

(Exit  ATTENDANT.) 

CHOROS 

Strophe 

Woe,  woe!  for  a  master  departed  I  weep  I 
O  Kaludon,  surely  this  fate 

Is  beyond  thee  to  bear  and  esteem, 

A  calamitous  loss,  if  I  seem 
To  measure  his  height  to  the  state! 


Hallirrlw 45 

Woe,  woe  1    I  will  hide  me  and  deep 
In  my  grief  I  shall  waste  quite  away, 
Not  a  tear  will  I  spare  night  or  day. 

Antistrophe 

In  veriest  prophecy,  seeing,  I  cry : 
No  good  sh^tT  descend  on  a  king 

Who  at  hate  is  cheered  and  is  crowned 
"With  no  circlet  of  bay  but  hath  bound 
On  his  brow  double  death  that  shall  sting, 
Envenom,  and  drive  to  insidious  vanity, 
Till  the  jealous  gods  visit  with  scourge 
And  its  pitiless  beat  of  red  surge* 

(Enter  KALLIRRHOE slowly.) 


EURUPULOS 
(ToCHOROS:) 

Ye  might  affright  me,  if  I  recked  your  omens. 
I  hear,  yet  scorn  them  as  I  scorned  your  lord, 
Bending  me  as  occasion  hinted  prudence  I 

(To  KALLIRRHOE:} 

See  where  she  moves  restored !    Kallirrhoe, 
Dear  sister,  hail  I  happy  on  whom  the  curse, 
So  strangely  lighted,  is  more  strangely  lifted, 
That  thou  mayst  live  to  choose  thee  peace  and  rest, 
Adored  a  princess  peerless  through  the  realm* 
What !  hast  thou  naught  for  me  ? 


46 


'CHOROS 

She  raises  lid 
And  gazes  with  no  wonted  pride  and  fire. 

EURUPULOS 

Ah,  have  they  whispered  how  Melanios 
Is  dead  and  I  —  nay,  pardon  that  I  cause 
Thy  tears  ;  methinks  I,  too,  at  hearing  this, 
Slighted  no  whit  my  heart.    Weep  for  the  king 
And  then  rejoice  in  him  whom  death  exalts, 
E'en  me,  thy  brother,  sister!  me,  thy  brother!  .  . 
How  now  —  no  word?    Art  dumb?    Is't  possible 
That  I,  thy  brother,  kin  and  close  to  thee, 
That  I,  thy  king,  thy  lord,  before  all  eyes 
Speak  and  receive  no  answer  ?    Art  thou  mad  ? 
Perchance  dead  Koresos  — 

KALLIRRHOE 

Not  that  name,  brother, 
I  charge  thee,  but  in  all  the  earth  what  else 
May  please  thee,  utter. 

EURUPULOS 

What  distraction  here? 
I  know  what  thou  art  overdelicate 
To  make  prohibited  mine  ears  :    *  Not  strange 
He  took  his  life  so  long  due  heaven  !" 

KALLIRRHOE 

Brother! 
What  word  hath  leaped  untimely  here  to  birth  ? 


47 


EURUPULOS 

Hast  thou  not  ere  this,  sister,  wished  him  ill, 
And  for  his  ruin  summoned  every  god 
Thy  heart  knew  and  thy  tongue  could  name  t 

KALLIRRHOE 

How  true 
And  wise  thy  words,  O  brother  I 

EURUPULOS 

"Wherein  wise 
And  true  but  erst  unworthy  one  reply  ? 

KALLIRRHOE 

There  was  a  god,  Eurupulos,  whose  name 
To  me  familiar  by  once  hated  tongue 
Was  yet  essential  stranger. 

EURUPULOS 
Whose,  I  pray? 

KALLIRRHOE 

Him  had  I  prayed  and  called  in  curse  on  life, 
The  priest  could  not  have  more  effectual 
Fallen  beneath  the  blow  than  now  he  fell, 
Turning  the  moment's  boon  to  lifelong  bane* 

CHOROS 
Dark  words  as  ever  veil  her  darker  thought. 


48 Kalltrrftoe 

KALLIRRHOE 

Know^st  not  the  god  who  hie  instructed  thee 
The  eloquence  of  beauty  and  desire, 
Lilt  of  Aglaia's  name,  to  call  her  fair  ? 

EURUPULOS 

Sister  1  remind  me  not  in  mockery  I 

Link  not  my  love  with  thine  ill-omened  hate ! 

KALLIRRHOE 

I  mock  not  now,  Eurupulos,  I  am 
Not  as  I  was,  but  in  his  death  I  know 
He  loved  me  and  I  live  to  die  for  him* 

EURUPULOS 

What  frenzy  insupportable  transports 
Thy  senses,  sister  ?    Art  thou  credulous 
In  folly  that  he  died  to  save  thy  life? 
Away !  enrage  me  not !    Believe  not  so. 
How?    Hath  thy  woman's  heart  so  soon  conceded 
Superb  esteem  of  him  and  touch  of  greatness 
Where  late  thou  f oundest  but  a  low  intent  ? 
List  to  me,  sister !    Grieve  for  him  no  more. 
Impute  not  virtue  ever  lived  in  him 
"Whenas  he  lies  in  death,  deserving  so 
Compassion.    Such,  no  other,  is  the  weakness 
The  dead  ask.    Die  for  thee  I    Recount  his  crime; 
Think  on  fas  deeds ;  intriguing  for  this  throne ; 
Intriguing  for  thy  body,  as  thou  oft 


KallirrDoc 49 

Hast  owned  to  me  in  secrecy ;  and  picture — 
Not  difficult — the  plague  from  heaven  he  called ; 
Behold  the  incense  of  their  putrid  pyres 
Arising  as  to  him  in  godhead  raised 
Thereby,  through  the  compliance  of  his  god* 
Thinks!  thou  no  sleepless  nights  were  his  as  out 
He  gazed  and  saw  his  pestilential  power? 
Thinks!  thou  he  constant  smiled  thereat  complacent 
And  never  imaged  ruin  haunted  him? 
Thinks!  thou  that  when  he  raised  his  eyes  this  morn, 
No  joy  was  his  at  death  of  thee  who  thus 
Marked  pluming  of  his  will  ?    And  then  when  he 
Beheld  thee  standing  beauteous  before 
The  knife,  thinkst  thou  thy  loveliness  restrained 
Him,  mercy  melted  at  the  pitch  delight? 
Nay !  there  were  sudden  voices  in  his  ears 
And  all  the  dead,  unburied  save  by  heap 
On  heap  of  their  staled  usefulness,  aye,  all 
Appeared  that  moment,  raving  by  compact, 
That  when  he  seemed  triumphant  most,  then  least 
Might  power  be  his  to  strike  aught  but  himself* 
They  came  with  bodies  hungry  for  the  earth; 
These  masks  of  murder  palsied  further  boast, 
Forbade  more  immolation,  leered,  and  swore 
To  throttle  with  a  million  ready  fingers 
Invisibly  that  human  lie  and  curse  I 

CHORDS 

O  King  Eurupulos,  if  this  be  false, 
The  gods  will  merciless  abide  the  deed  I 


50 Kallirrhoe 

KALLIRRHOE 

Brother*  thou  shalt  this  once  and  nevermore 
Again  behold  my  face*    I  shall  be  brief. 
I  know  that  Koresos  was  pure  as  light 
The  gold  morn  pours  with  lavish  artlessness 
Above  the  earth.    I  knew  not  ere  yon  moment 
The  meaning  and  the  winged  wonder  men 
Call  love.    I  thought  it  something  soft,  to  nestle 
Like  smoothness  of  a  bird's  down  'gainst  the  cheek* 
To  charm  with  ever-changing  strangenesses* 
Hunt  heart  with  fierce  desire  to  thrall  the  other. 
And  ever  in  consummate  blessedness 
A  feverish*  suspecting  jealousy 
At  time*  friends*  joy*  or  grief  unshared  and  known. 
It  is  not  so*  and  I  am  rapt  beyond 
Mere  words,  a  part  in  realms  I  ne'er  descried — 

CHORDS 
Look  to  the  king*  attendants,  where  he  sways! 

KALLIRRHOE 

Sustained  there*  bathed  in  gentler*  alien  air* 
All  else*  ennobled  from  the  inmost  heart 
Of  being  and  transmuted  from  the  sense 
And  movement  of  my  daily  ease  to  issue 
More  rare  from  calm  to  higher  calm*  as  eagles 
Must  mount*  or  men  might  were  their  oceans  piled 
Enmassed  one  on  the  other*  calmest  highest* 
And  in  the  sailless  craft  of  contemplation 


Hallirrftoe 


Ride  quite  supreme,  the  wide  eyes  lustered  wider  I 

Aye,  as  among  us  mortal  men,  devising 

In  lands  or  residence  vicissitudes, 

Until  so  settled  is  our  latest  state 

And  blotted  out  the  past  one,  that  we  fail 

To  image  how  all  stood  before  the  change, 

So  in  my  soul,  late  residence  of  hate  — 

CHORDS 
Kallirrhoe!    Thy  brother!    Look  on  him! 

KALLIRRHOE 

The  sum  of  former  days  is  as  a  dream 

No  sooner  dreamed  than  dead,  despite  the  strength 

Of  its  phantasmal  truth.    And  thus  my  life 

Moves  on  in  melody  and  beat  of  love* 

And  I  believe  he  waits  beyond  the  bourn 

And  stays  his  hands  (assailing  not  the  gods 

With  his  impatience)  from  too  eager  reach 

To  me.    Oh  what  a  thought  I  oh  what  a  god 

To  treasure  soul  in  poise,  to  bring  me  balm 

Amid  severest  service  !    If  not  true,  — 

Ah,  Zeus  be  praised,  I  have  been  happy  once  ! 

CHOROS 

Kallirrhoe  !    Thy  brother  !    Look  on  him  ! 

Seest  not  how  he  hath  heard  but  half  thy  dreaming? 

Art  thou  so  frantic?    Hast  no  pious  tears? 


52 Rallfrrfcoe 

KALLIRRHOE 

The  gods  have  judged :  and  happy  are  the  dead 
Who  die  unspotted  deaths  after  such  lives. 
Attendants,  follow.    Bear  the  bodies  hence. 

(Exit  KALLIRRHOE  followed  by  ATTEND- 
ANTS bearing  the  bodies  of  EURUPULOS  and 
KORESOS.} 

CHORDS 
Strange  is  death : 
Equally  here  they  lie. 
Prince  and  priest, 

Less  than  living,  one  with  buried,  least. 
Ah,  not  so :  for  they  go, 

That,  so  gloried  here,  with  black-stained  brow ; 
This,  uncrowned  in  life,  love-hallowed  now ! 
Muteness,  a  song,  sob,  sigh, — 
Such  is  breath. 


THE  END. 


M191939 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  LIBRARY 


